(a) whether the Doordarshan plans to set up low power transmission centres in all
major cities / towns by the end of Ninth Five Year Plan;
(b) if so, the details of progress made in this direction, till date;
(c) whether the Doordarshan is financially viable to carry out its plan within stipulated
time; and
(d) if not, the steps taken/ proposed to be taken to meet the financial resources of the
Doordarshan ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND
BROADCASTING AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW, JUSTICE
AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 94 FOR ANSWER ON 28/07/2000.
(a) & (b): Doordarshan formulates plans to install transmitters at different locations in the
country on the basis of criteria such as population and area likely to be covered by
the proposed transmitter. Almost all sizeable cities/towns are already covered by TV
service, either by a transmitter in the same city/town or through a transmitter installed
in a nearby city/town. At present there are 1150 Doordarshan transmitters in the
country, providing DD service to 88.2% of the population and covering 75.3% of the
geographical area of the country. For further expansion of Doordarshan coverage,
255 transmitter projects are presently under implementation, which includes 50
transmitters for DD-2 (Metro Channel). It is expected that when these projects are
completed by the end of the 9th Five Year Plan, DD services will cover 93 % of the
population.
(c) & (d): Doordarshan has been implementing its plans for expansion of TV coverage
with the help of budgetary support provided through the Five Year Plans and with the
commercial revenue generated internally by Doordarshan. Future financial
requirements for the projects under implementation as stated above is also proposed
to be met by adequate budgetary allocations and the commercial revenue generated
internally.